Tool holder



March 14, 1961 R. J. MARO ,974,80

TOOL HOLDER Filed July 12, 1957 Fig. 5

INVENTOR Rudolph J Mara 71113 .22 rim ATTORNEYS TOOL HOLDER Rudolph J. Maro, Puritas Hardware, 14307 Purltas Ave., Cleveland, Ohio Filed July 12, 1957, Ser. No. 671,491

7 Claims. (Cl. 211-60) The present invention relates to a rack or support for small hand tools and the like, and more particularly to a one-piece, metal sheet bent to provide a channel having vertically aligned, tool-receiving openings.

According to the present invention, a tool holder is provided in the form of a one-piece metal sheet bent to form a channel having a vertical bottom wall and horizontal upper and lower side walls, a vertical flange extending upwardly from the upper side walls, and a lower flange having a vertical portion extending downwardly from the lower side wall and a horizontal portion extending forwardly from the vertical portion to provide a narrow ledge.

A series of equally spaced elongated slots is formed in the one-piece sheet, each slot having circular end portions of the same radius which are vertically aligned and are located substantially at the medial vertical lplaneof said upper and lower side walls. The intermediate'portion ,Of

each slot extends across said side wallsand the bottom wall of said channel and has straight sideedges which are located in parallel transversever-tical planes, whereby said intermediate portion has a uniform width slightly less than the radius of said end portions. These slots provide convenient receptacles for a variety of tools including pliers, screwdrivers, open-end'wrenches, and the like. e 1

Rows of small holes are provided in the upper and lower side walls above the above-mentioned ledge toreceive drills, screwdrivers, Allen wrenches, and other small objects. Small vertically aligned holes are also provided in said side walls between the slots for receiving various tools and for receiving tool-Supporting hooks. The hooks may b rr nged to upp rt hammers and various other objects which are too large to fit in the other openings of the t ol lder- A p cer memb r is pl db the one pi e l holder an the wall to which it is ,attached to provide a space between said holder and said w l for receiving pu ty paint scrap rs, angl s. and similar t ls. Th sp r memb r may be shaped at one end, to receive an a tac ng rew and at its other en o ti on a egboard. Y

A Object of e P esen n en on is to provide a mp in xp nsive rack cr upp r ng-a var y oi small hand tools su h a p e s, h s, w nches, screwdrivers, hammers, drills, Allen wrenches, dividers, scribers, files, calipers, putty knives, angles, and the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide a fast n ng m n for a to lrackwhi h may b employed to n t he r c s t a conv n ional P g oard, or wh h y e mp y d thss ew o imi aria ening means to connect the rack toa vertical wall.

"will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the and from the drawings,

following description and claims iawhich; q

2,974,804 Patented Mar. 14, 1961 "ice Figure 1 is a fragmentary front elevational view on a reduced scale showing the toolrack of the present invention mounted on a fiat vertical wall, a series of tools being shown in positions which they may occupy on the rack;

Figure 2 is a top view of the rack, taken on the line 22 of Fig. l, and on the same scale, with parts omitted;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the rack taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 and on a larger scale, a drill being shown in dot-dash lines;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the rack of Fig. l on the same scale as Fig. 3;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view showing the rack of Figs. 1 to 4 mounted on a conventional Pegboard; and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary plan view of the flat metal sheet used to form the tool rack of Figs. 1 to 5.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, which are drawn substantially to scale. and in which like parts are identified by the same numerals throughout the several views, Figs. 1 to 4 show a tool holder or toolrack A which is formed from a flat rectangular sheet a of steel, aluminum, or other suitable metal. This metal sheet, which is shown in Fig. 6, is bent so as to have a uniform cross-sectional shape as indicated in Fig. 3 and so as to provide a channel having flat upper and lower side walls 1 and 2 and a flat vertical bottom wall 3. The metal sheet is also bent to form an upwardly extending flat vertical flange 4 extending upwardly from the inner end of the wall 1 and to forma flange of L-shaped cross section extending downwardly from the inner end of the wall '2. The latter flange has a flat supporting portion 5 located in the same vertical plane as the flange 4 and a flat portion 6 which extends horizontally outwardly to form a narrow ledge. Y

Before the sheet a is bent, it is cut to'form a row of regularly spaced parallel slots 8 having straight side edges 9 parallel to the straight side edges of the sheet a and having circular end edges 10 with centers of curvature. located along two lines parallel to the straight side edges of the sheet a. provides a series of narrow elongated slots of dumbbell shape having enlarged circular openings 11 at its opposite ends arranged in parallel rows. A seriesof small holes 12, 13,14 and 15 are cut in the the sheet a in four straight rows parallel to the rows of large holes 11 and parallel to the side edges of the sheet a as indicated in Fig. 6. At least two holes 16 are also provided in the sheet a to provide openings for receiving the spacer rods 01 the attaching screws.

At least two spacer rods 17 are provided with each toolrack for supporting the rack and/ or spacing the rack from the vertical wall to which it is attached. This spacer rod is formed irom a metal rod, preferably of uniform circular cross section, which is bent to the shape indicated in Figs. 4 and 5, which are drawn substantially to scale. The rod has a long straight portion 18 with a length greater than the distance between the horizontal portions 1 and 6 and has end portions bent to different shapes.

.Qne end portion 19 is bent to an arcuate shape to provide an eye for receiving an attaching screw, the end edge of the rod at 19 preferably being spaced 2. small fraction of aninch from the straight portion 18 so that the portion 19 may be employed as a hook for supporting key rings or other objects.

The opposite end of the spacer rod 17 is generally 'S-shaped and has a short horizontal portion 20 of a length to extend through the opening '16 in the flange 4,

.ashort vertical portion 21 with a length corresponding o to the distance between the adjacent edges of the hole 16 and the flange 4, a longer horizontal portion 22 parallel to the portion 20 and-extending in the opposite direcmar-sect tion a distance corresponding to the length of the portion slipped through the hole 16 and mounted on or removed from a channel-shaped metal sheet. The opposite end portions of the spacer rod are bent in the-same plane so that the spacer rod may lie flat against a flat vertical wall as shown in Fig. 3. This permits the end portion 19 to be mounted on an attaching screw 25, as indicated. in Figs. 1 to 4, to serve as a spacer between the toolrack and the vertical wall to which it is attached. .If it is desired to support the tool holder on a conventional Pegboard 26 having a series of regularly spaced holes 27 therein, the end portion 19 is located below t he ledge 6 When the sheet a is bent to the cross-sectional shape shown in Figs. 3 and 5, the circular edges v of each slot 8 are in vertical alinement and the side edges 9 are located in two parallel vertical planes. Each hole 12 is located in the upper sidewall 1 in vertical alignment with one of the holes 13 located in the lower side wall 2 directly above the ledge'6. The aligned holes 12 and 13 are adapted to receive a small article, such as a drill, as shown in Fig. 3, the imperforate ledge 6 limiting the downward movement-of the articles.

The small holes 12 and 13 may, therefore, be used to support drills, .Allen wrenches, files, scribers and other small tools which "are often misplaced because of their small size. Each of the small holes 14 is located in the and the opposite end portion is inserted through one of the holes 16 and one of the holes 27 as indicated in Fig. 5, the Wall engaging portion 23 of the spacer rod 17 holding the toolracks securely in position.

The toolrack of the present invention may be. made by a very simple inexpensive method which does not require expensive machinery and whichris practical for a small shop. According to this method a rectangular steel sheet a is provided having a length of about 18 to 20 inches, a width of about 8 to 10 inches, and a thickness of about, .03 to .05 inch. A punch and die are provided which in each operation cut two largeholes .11 with a. diameter of about 0.7 to 0.8 inch and four holes 12 to 15 having a diameter of about 0.3 to 0.4 inch. The centers of said four small holes are. located ina straight line parallel to the line of centers of the two holes 1 1, and are preferablyregularly. spaced. The punch, therefore, cuts six holes only each time it is moved into and out of the die.

. According to the present invention, a sheet aisp'erfo rated by advancing the same longitudinally adistance of about 1.5 to 2 inches each time the punch is reciprocated so that six straight parallel rows of equally longitudinally spaced holes are .formed throughout the length of the sheet a parallel to the side edges of the sheet. The disfront portion of the upper side wall 1 in vertical alignment with a small hole 15 located in the front portion of the lower side wall 2. The holes 14 and 15 are located midway between theslots 8 as indicated in Fig. 2. Although these holes do not have any ledge, similar to the ledge 6, to assist in supporting articles, they are nevertheless useful for supporting many tools such as punches, icepicks, and screwdrivers, which have enlarged heads or handles .to limit the downward movement of the articles.

These small holes also may be used to receive hooks 29 of the type shown in Fig. 3, having a vertical attaching portion 30, a short horizontal portion 31, and an arcuate supporting portion 32. Each of the books 29 preferably is formed from a rod of circular cross section having a diameter preferably less than the radiusof the holes114 and 1'5 so that it is inexpensive to make. The hooks are readily mounted by inserting the vertical ati taching portion 30through a pair of vertically aligned rearwardly. projecting portions of the metal hammer head resting on-the supporting portions 32. It will be apparent that the books 29 may be arranged in various 7 ways to support articleswhich are too large to be suptance from the line of centers of one row of 'large holes .line of centers. to the line of centers of the small holes 14;

The lines of centers of the small holes 13 "and 15 are I spacedfrom the adjacent line ofcenters oftheother row oflargeholes 11 by the same distance: The distance fromthe line of centers of one row of' holes 1I-to one side edge of the sheet a is preferably about one inch less than the .distance from the line of centers of'the other row of holes 11 to the other side edge of the sheet as indicated generally in Fig. 6. This arrangement of the large holes is necessary to provide the extra material for the narrow ledge 6 which preferably has a uniform .width of about 0.7 to 0.9 inch.

After the large and small holes have been cut'in the sheet a, material is'removed between each pair of laterally aligned holes-1'1 to form narrow rectangular slots 1 having side edges 9 parallel to the end edges of thesheet .tAs .shown in Fig. 1 a pair of pliers may be supported .in a pairhof adjacent slots 8 by inserting each handle "of the pliers into the vertically aligned holes 11 of a :slot 8. A conventional open-end wrench 36, having a shank with a width less than the distance between the side edges 9 of one slot 8 may be inserted into that slot and rotated 90-degrees to the position shown in Fig. 1

so that the wrench is securely supported. A drill 37 is easily supported by'insertion into a pair of vertically aligned holes 12 and 13 so that it rests on the ledge 6,

Allen wrenches and other small objects being supported in a similar manner. A putty knife 38 is easily supported by inserting the blade between the flange 4 and a, each of these slots having the same uniform width which is slightly less than the radius of the holes ll-and preferably is about 0.3 to 0.4 inch. The edges 9 may be cut with a punch and die, after forming all of the circular holes by means of a reciprocating punch, by advancing the sheet a in equal increments, as during forming of the circular holes. As herein shown each of the slots 8 has the shape of a dumbbell and has an overall length of about 4.3 inches, one end of each slot 8 being spaced'about 1.6inches from one side edge of the sheet n and theother end of the slot being spaced about 2.6 7 1110 1165 from the' othenside edge of the sheet. .1; 1.1

the wall or board to which the toolrack is attached, the handle of this tool limiting-the downward movement so .thatthe tool'is securely held in position.

- -It be apparent that angles, squares, scrapers, and

other tools havingflat blades, or the like, of a size to fit behind the flange may also be supported. The spacer Fig. 5. Y

the spaeermembers are used on a Pegboard as indicated in Fig. 5, the end portions 19 of the spacer members at opposite ends of the toolholder are .in horizontal alignment and may be used to support a rod havan external diameter less than the internal diameter thedistance of two spacer members 17'. desired, more than two spacer members 17 may be provided and two of these maybe mountedclose together on the Pegboard so. that short rods may be supported.

It will be understood that the above description is by way of illustration rather than limitation and that, in accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, variations and modifications of the specific devices disclosed herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A tool support for pliers, drills, chisels, wrenches, screw drivers, putty knives, hammers, and other hand tools, comprising a one-piece rectangular metal sheet formed to provide an upper vertical flange adapted for mounting on a vertical wall, an upper flat supporting wall extending horizontally outwardly from the bottom end of said flange, an intermediate wall extending downwardly from the outer end of said upper wall, a lower flat supporting wall extending horizontally inwardly from the bottom end of said intermediate wall, a lower vertical flange extending downwardly from the inner end of said lower supporting wall and located in the same vertical plane as said upper flange, said lower flange having an outwardly projecting horizontal end portion providing a short ledge below said lower supporting wall, a series of small circular holes arranged in rows in said upper and lower supporting walls directly above said ledge, each of the holes in the upper supporting wall being vertically aligned with one of the holes in the lower supporting wall, said metal sheet being formed throughout its length with a series of regularly spaced parallel slots of the same size extending between said upper and lower supporting walls perpendicular to the side edegs of themetal sheet, each of said slots having enlarged circular end portions in said supporting walls and a straight intermediate portion with a uniform width less than the diameter of said circular portions, the circular portions of the slots in the upper Supporting wall being verticallyaligned with the circular portions of the slots in the lower supporting wall, and a separate spacer rod adapted for spacing said upper flange of said tool support from said vertical wall to provide thereby .a narrow tool-receivingclcarway extending substantially the full length and width of each' flange.

' 2; In a tool holder comprising a one-piece metal sheet formed to provide a channel with generally horizontal upper and lower side walls joined by a vertical wall and to provide upwardly and downwardly extending flanges at the ends of said upper and lower walls, said upwardly extending flange connected to the end of the upper side wall opposite the vertical wall and said downwardly extending flange connected to the end of the lower side wall opposite the vertical wall, the combination therewith of a one-piece spacer rod having a straight vertical portion engaging both of said flanges, a curved eye portion at one end of the rod, and an attaching part at the other end of the rod, said rod being bent in only one plane, said attaching part having a U-shaped portion having one leg thereof extending horizontally forwardly toward said vertical wall through the upwardly extending flange and another leg extending rearwardly over said flange, the rearwardly extending leg having a vertical end portion, and a vertical board having regularly spaced holes therein and having a flat front face engaging said straight vertical portion, said rearwardly extending leg of the U-shaped portion also extending horizontally rearwardly through one of the holes in said board, said vertical end portion engaging the rear face of said board to hold the rod securely in position.

3. A tool support for pliers, drills, chisels, wrenches, screw drivers, putty knives, hammers, and other hand too-ls, comprising a one-piece rectangular metal sheet formed to provide an upper vertical flange, anupper flat supporting wall extending horizontally outwardly from the bottom end of said flange, an intermediate wall ex: tending downwardly from the outer end of said upper wall, a lower flat supporting wall extending horizontally inwardly from the bottom end of said intermediate wall, and a lower vertical flange extending downwardly from the inner end of said lower supporting wall and located in the same vertical plane as said upper flange, said lower flange having an outwardly projecting horizontal end portion providing a short ledge below said lower supporting wall, a series of small circular holes arranged in rows in said upper and lower supporting walls directly above said ledge, each of the holes in the upper supporting wall being vertically aligned with one of the holes in the lower supporting wall, said metal sheet being formed throughout its length with a series of regularly spaced parallel slots of the same size extending between said upper and lower supporting walls perpendicular to the side edges of the metal sheet, each of said slots having enlarged circular end portions in said supporting walls and a straight intermediate portion with a uniform width less than the diameter of said circular portions, the circular portions of the slots in the upper supporting wall being vertically aligned with the circular portions of the slots in the lower supporting wall, said upper flange being rigidly mounted on a vertical wall, and a separate spacer rod located between said vertical wall and said upper flange to provide a narrow tool-receiving clearance space extending substantially the full length and width of each flange. Y

4. A tool support for pliers, drills, chisels, wrenches, screw drivers, putty knives, hammers, and other hand tools, comprising a one-piece rectangular metal sheet formed to provide an upper vertical flange, an upper flat supporting wall extending horizontally outwardly from the bottom end of said flange, an intermediate wall extending downwardly from the outer end of said upper wall, a lower flat supporting wall extending horizontally inwardly from the bottom end of said intermediate wall, and a lower vertical flange extending downwardly from the inner end of said lower supporting wall and located in the same vertical plane as said upper flange, said lower flange having an outwardly projecting horizontal end portion providing a short ledge below said lower supporting wall, a series of small circular holes arranged in rows in said upper and lower supporting walls directly above said ledge, each of the holes in the upper supporting wall being vertically aligned with one of the holes in the lower supporting wall, said metal sheet being formed throughout its length with a series of regularly spaced parallel slots of the same size extending between said upper and lower supporting walls perpendicular to the side edges of the metal sheet, each of said slots having enlarged circular end portions in said supporting walls and a straight intermediate portion with a uniform width less than the diameter of said circular portions, the circular portions of the slots in the upper supporting wall being vertically aligned with the circular portions of the slots in the lower supporting wall, said upper flange rigidly mounted on a vertical wall and a separate spacer rod located therebetween, said vertical wall comprising a thin board having a multiplicity of holes therein, said upper flange having a small hole therein, said spacer rod comprising a metal attaching rod engaging said upper and lower flanges and said vertical wall and extending outwardly through the hole in the upperflange, inwardly over the upper flange and through one of the holes in said board and upwardly behind said board.

5. In a tool holder comprising a one-piece metal sheet formed to provide a channel with generally horizontal upper and lower side walls joined by a vertical wall to provide upwardly and downwardly extending flanges at the ends of said upper and lower walls, said upwardly extending flange connected to the end of the upper side 7 wall opposite the vertical wall and said downwardly extending flange connected to the end of the lower side wall opposite the vertical wall, the combination therewith of 'a one-piece spacer rod having an eye portion at one end, and a vertical base wall, said eye portion of the spacer rod being adapted for location between said upwardly extending flange and the base wall to space the upwardly extending flange away from the base wall when the tool holder is secured thereto to thereby provide a narrow tool-receiving clearwayv substantially the entire length of the upwardly extending flange. 6. In a tool holder comprising acne-piece metal sheet formed to provide a channel with, generally horizontal upper and lower side walls joined by'a vertical walland to provide upwardly and downwardly extending flanges at the ends of said upper and lower walls, said upwardly extending flange connected to the end of the upper side wall opposite the vertical wall and said downwardly ex: tending flange connected to the end, of the lower sidewall opposite the vertical wall, the combination therewith of a one-piece spacer rod having a straight vertical portion engaging both of said flanges and having a generally U-shaped attaching portion at one end thereof, said rod being bent in only one plane and the U-shaped portion having one leg thereof extending horizontally forwardly toward said vertical wall through the upwardly extending flange and another leg extending rearwardly over said flange, the rearwardly extending leg having a vertical end portion, and a vertical boardhaving regularly spaced holes therein and having a flat front face engaging said straight vertical portion, said rearwardly extending leg of the U-shaped portion also extending horizontally rearwardly through one of the holes in said board, said vertical end portion engaging the rear face of said boardto hold the rod securely in position. 7. *A tool support-for pliers, drills, chisels, wrenches, screw drivers, putty knives, hammers, and other hand tools, comprising a one-piece rectangular metal sheet formed-to provide an upper vertical flange, an upper flat supporting wall extending horizontally outwardly from the-bottom end of said flange, an intermediate wall extending downwardly from the outer end of said upper .wall, a lower flat supporting wall extending horizontally inwardly from the bottom end of said intermediate wall, and a lower vertical flange extending downwardly'irom the inner end of said lowersupporting wall and located in the same vertical plane as said upper flange, said lower flange having an outwardly projecting horizontal end portion providing a short ledge below saidlower supporting wall, a series of small circular holes arranged in rows in said upper and lower supporting walls directly above-said ledge, each of the holes in the upper supporting wall being vertically aligned with one of the holes in;the lower supporting wallsaid'metal sheet being formed'throughout its length with a series of regularly spacedparallel slots of the same size extending between said upper and lower supporting walls perpendicular to the side edges of the metal sheet, each'of said slots having enlarged circular end portions in said supporting walls and a straight, intermediate portion with a uniform width less thanthe diameter of said circular portions, the circular portions of the slots in the upper supporting wall being vertically aligned with the circular portions of the slots in the lower supporting wall, said upper flangebeing rigidly mounted on a vertical wall, and a spacer member located between said vertical mounting wall and said upper andlower flanges to provide a narrow tool-receiving clearance space extending substantially the full length and width of each flange.

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